Sian Victoria © - Transylvania sunflower fields

Ways to improve health after lockdown

Spring is a time for new beginnings and with lockdown restrictions slowly lifting. Hopefully, soon we will begin to get some normality back in our lives. Despite it being a challenging year for all. I have no intentions of going fully back to the lifestyle I lived pre-lockdown.

A few of the things I’ve adopted since the first lockdown and have continued ever since. Is eating healthy non-processed nutritional plant-based foods, exercising often and exploring my local nature reserves, making time for self-care, going on digital detoxes, eliminating toxic products (and people) from my life and cherishing the fact that materialistic things don’t bring happiness. Life experiences and good people do.

So, here are just a few of the things I recommend doing this Spring to start getting back to normality after lockdown and ways to give yourself an overall health boost by enhancing your lifestyle and consumer habits and how to manifest positivity.

I’ve given up on watching the news. Restrictions are changing daily, so bear in mind some of the following tips may not apply right now, but may do in a few weeks or months so of course, it goes without saying do what you can safely from the list following the current restrictions in your area.

1. Spring clean your home & mind

Sian Victoria © - Blue Merle Border Collie dog

A Spring clean is always the way I like to start the new season. As they say, a tidy home a tidy mind and it is true. So, think of it as cleaning away the past 12 months and starting fresh.

Do a deep clean, move furniture around, give the walls a lick of paint, de-clutter your cupboards and sell your unwanted goods to make some extra cash for the new experiences you’ll soon be embarking on this Spring.

You may find my Depop selling tips post helpful if this is something you choose to do. The useful tips can be applied to eBay, Facebook marketplace and Vinted too.

2. Find exciting activities to book for outdoor fun

Sian Victoria © - Stratford-Upon-Avon river boat

This time of year, when the trees begin to blossom, and the birds sing that extra bit louder. The only thing I want to do is to be outside enjoying the brighter and longer days.

So, take full advantage of Spring and summer and get outside as much as you can. Search for exciting outdoor activities that can be booked to enjoy with friends and family. Look to do things you’ve never done before.

It could be anything from hiring a mini boat for your bubble to cruise down the river or completing a treetop obstacle course at GoApe. Don’t restrict your activities, think air, land, and sea. If it can be booked following the guidelines, do it. If this past year has taught me anything, its to live your life to the fullest because crap happens.

For inspiration, experience booking sites may be helpful.

3. Book alfresco dining at your local restaurant

Sian Victoria © - Cafe Rouge, Mailbox, Birmingham

Restaurants and pubs with plenty of outdoor alfresco dining space are booking up quickly. So, if you’ve been missing being dined on and want to enjoy a little bit of normality while supporting your local check out your nearby places to book a reservation.

If you’re based in the West Midlands why not book food and drink places that have plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. My list of alfresco dining restaurants in Birmingham may help if you live near me.

4. Plan a staycation, home or away

Sian Victoria © - Cerrig Sais holiday cottage in Rhosgadfan, near Caernarfon, Wales

Currently, I have no plans to travel abroad. As much as I desperately want too. I feel that I need to hold on that little bit longer to see how the next few months unfold.

Although I certainly won’t be missing out on the opportunity to book a staycation for the UK, Wales or Scotland when it is safe and possible to do so. I’ve always enjoyed staying in a woodland lodge as you’ll see from my short break experiences at Landal and center parcs.

If you’re planning a staycation, then you may find the perfect escape at coolstays, Contiki, Cornwall Hideaways, lastminute.com and Park Holidays UK.

5. Visit nature reserves or embark on a hilltop adventure to experience springtime views

Sian Victoria © - Malvern Hills, Worcestershire

When I look back on 2020 and block out all the sadness and loss. All my most memorable experiences are from the Spring and Summer adventures, I embarked on with my bubble exploring the trails and hikes in West Midlands.

I’ve lived in the West Midlands all my life and it wasn’t until lockdown that I explored it fully on foot and discovered all the hidden gems. Most days during the week we would stop work at 5 pm, grab a homemade meal to go and discover our nearby nature reserves until sunset.

At the weekends we would drive out a little further within the region and hike to admire summit views. Our favourite local hikes are the Wrekin, Carding Mill Valley and the Malvern Hills. This year we plan to see more of the Peak District National Park.

6. Make a picnic or enjoy a delicious feast in the garden

Sian Victoria © - Alfresco food & drink in the garden

The past twelve turbulent months have made me appreciate the little things in life and to never take experiences or people for granted. Sitting under a blossom tree with my bubble enjoying a delicious picnic surrounded by sunshine and greenery sounds like the perfect mid-week treat to me right now.

It’s proven that spending time outdoors among nature benefits our mental health. So, if you have a garden or nearby park then why not enjoy your lunch or evening meal outside more often. If you are working from home, take some time out from digital devices and enjoy your lunch break by sitting in the garden for some peace and delicious food.

7. Go on a digital detox

Sian Victoria © - Self-care reading a book

As I mentioned in my how to work from home and self-care tips for improving mental health post. Going on a digital detox does wonder for your mental health. Although there are lots of positives of social media. It can impact our lives negatively in so many ways. From encouraging poor mental health when comparing our lives and looks to others and being constantly subjected to a feed full of negative world news.

Too much dual screening is causing poor general health too which is affecting our sleep, eyesight, back, neck and causing repetitive strain injury. Also as mentioned in my SPF face post, it is causing us to age quicker too because the blue light emitted from our digital devices are killing our skin cells.

So, go on a digital detox, turn off the blue light filter or just try to reduce your screen time by replacing it with positive activities such as exercise, meditation, or a new hobby.

8. Brighten the home with indoor plants

Sian Victoria © - Light home office, desk with plants, working lunch eating the laughing cow on crackers

As previously mentioned. Studies show that outdoor nature spaces improve our mental wellbeing. So, why not bring the outside indoors by filling the rooms you spend the most time in with house plants.

I also find working in the room that gets the most daylight shining through the windows makes a positive difference to my mood and productivity too.

Since we will be getting a lot more sunshine over the next few months moving your workspace to another room that gets the most light could make all the difference.

If filling your home with indoor plants sounds like something you would like to do then you may find my post on house plants that grow quickly and are easy to care for helpful.

9. Enhance your diet with a healthy nutrition boost

In the past twelve months after lots of research into natural plant-based nutrition. I’ve completely changed the way I eat and see food. I now consume food and drink as medicine and have an ever-growing pantry stocked with highly nutritious vegan wholefoods.

Enhancing your diet and getting the essential nutrients your body needs could be as simple as sprinkling seeds on your breakfast and snacking with nuts if you are low on omegas. Or adding spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes to your meals or replacing sweet treats with juicy mangos for a vitamin A boost. Or simply replacing coffee and sugary fruit juices with green tea and fizzy drinks for hibiscus tea.

What we put in our bodies has a major influence on our overall health. Honestly, at first, I struggled to make healthy swaps. As sweet treats and unhealthy foods and drinks are addictive. But if you keep it up and push yourself, you’ll soon start to feel and see the difference.

This past year my body, skin, hair, and physical and mental health have all positively transformed and I’ve got to the point where processed foods don’t appeal to me anymore and if I do have a treat or slip-up I find myself not enjoying it like I used to.

I’ve published a post on how to consume food as medicine and my recommended vitamin brands if you would prefer the convenience of taking a supplement instead.

10. Kick start your physical health

Sian Victoria © - Home fitness gym equipment

As much as I loved going to the gym pre-lockdown. I think over the past twelve months we’ve all established that you don’t necessarily need a gym membership to get fit. Instead going for a walk, run, taking up a new physical hobby or simply using resistance bands, a kettlebell, and dumbbells to use at home is all you need to positively improve your physical and mental health.

Finding a physical activity, you’ll enjoy so that it doesn’t feel like a chore and doing it consistently is the key to feeling and seeing a difference in your overall health.

To be honest, during the colder months I stopped being so active and it has made my overall health slump again. Which is a sign that being active does give you an essential wellbeing boost. A minimum of 15 minutes a day doing something physical could be enough to increase endorphins to make you feel better.

If you’re working from home, take short regular breaks away from the screen and get moving. This is also a great way to give your eyes and mind a rest so that your productivity doesn’t decline and may also help reduce RSI.

11. Adopt a toxic-free beauty & home regime

Sian Victoria © - Applying vegan & cruelty-free skincare regime

As I said. I’ve completely changed my diet and am now a lot more conscious about what I put in my body. But similarly, I’m also more aware of the ingredients I apply to my skin and hair too. Since our skin absorbs up to 70% of what we put on it. So, it’s important to feed our largest organ inside and out, with safe and beneficial ingredients.

Last year I explained in my summer skin at home post how I’ve upgraded my beauty routine to be fully plant-based and cruelty-free. But it doesn’t stop there. I’ve since discovered that most mainstream, independent, vegan, and non-vegan products have questionable ingredients too that are no good for us.

As the chemicals in personal care, beauty and home cleaning products can penetrate our bloodstream and adversely affect our health in many ways. It is not just what we put onto our skin its what we inhale too.

So, this Spring. Research the ingredients in your beauty and home products. The findings may surprise you. Like me, in time you will notice the difference of changing your beauty and home regime for toxic-free alternatives.

12. Refresh your Spring-Summer wardrobe

Sian Victoria © - SS19 M&S Fashion, Marks & Spencer clothing rails

If like me you’ve been dressing for comfort over style for most of lockdown 2.0 and 3.0 and feel that you’ve lost your identity. Plus, haven’t bought anything new because when it eventually comes to wearing it out-out a new season will be upon us. So, what’s the point?

Then I encourage you to spend a few hours sorting through your wardrobe, trying on different outfits and incorporating those pieces that have been shoved to the back, unworn and unseen for years.

Try to reclaim your fashion identity or create a new image so that you're walking out of lockdown feeling like a new happier version of yourself. And if you don’t find your fashion mo-jo hanging up in your wardrobe then shop for new sustainable key pieces to update your look and get rid of any unwanted garments by donating them or selling them for cash.

13. De-clutter your mind

Sian Victoria © - Scandi home office desk, looking through family photos

Spring is a time for new beginnings. So, it’s the perfect opportunity to follow in nature's footsteps by letting go of any negativity in your life and allowing yourself to blossom this season.

I’m certainly no shrink. However, I have battled with fluctuating poor mental health for as long as I can remember. So, from personal experience. I can confirm that eliminating negative things and people from your life that is a causing factor certainly does help.

Most of the time you’ll find that things, memories and people are not the issues. It’s simply just how you process your thoughts and cause yourself a mental battle in your mind and overthink things. Which contributes to making the simplest of daily tasks a complete mind game.

I’ve also found that when you begin to not care what others think and say about you. You'll achieve extraordinary things. You are in charge of yourself and your destiny. When you remove physical and mental barriers from your life and replace them with positivity. You can do anything.

Next time you’re feeling negative. Consider the law of attraction. What you think starts a vibration that influences how you feel, impacts what you attract and creates your reality. So, choose your thoughts wisely. Manifest positivity for positive outcomes.

To conclude

These are just a few tips on how to give yourself an overall health boost this season. Because when you feel good about yourself inside and out and make positive lifestyle and consumer changes it does wonders.

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